“' Why,' replied Jack, 'it's agreed to put a coal in the thatch, in the first place; and although they were afeared to name what he's to get besides, I doubt they'll make a spatchcock of himself. They won't meddle with any other of the family, though--but he's down for it.' “'Are you to be one of them?' asked Mick. “'I was the third man named,' replied the other, 'bekase, they said, I knew the place.' “'Jack,' said his emaciated brother, with much solemnity, raising himself up in the bed--'Jack, if you have act or part in that bloody business, God in his glory you'll never see. Fly the country--cut off a finger or toe--break your arm--or do something that may prevent you from being there. Oh, my God!' he exclaimed, whilst the tears fell fast down his pale cheeks--'to go to murder the man, and lave his little family widout a head or a father over them, and his wife a widow! To burn his place, widout rhime, or rason, or offince! Jack, if you go, I'll die cursing you. I'll appear to you--I'll let you rest neither night nor day, sleeping nor waking, in bed or out of bed. I'll haunt you, till you'll curse the very hour you war born.' “'Whist, Micky,' said Jack, 'you're frightening me: I'll not go--will that satisfy you?' “'Well, dhrop down on your two knees, there,' said Micky, 'and swear before the God that has his eye upon you this minute, that you'll have no hand in injuring him or his, while you live. If you don't do this, I'll not rest in my grave and maybe I'll be a corpse before mornin.' “'Well Micky, said Jack, who though wild and unthinking, was a lad whose heart and affections were good, 'it would be hard for me to refuse you that much, and you! not likely to be long wid me--I will;' and he accordingly knelt down and swore solemnly, in words which his brother dictated to him, that he would not be concerned in the intended murder. “'Now, give me your hand, Jack,' said the invalid; 'God bless you--and so He will. Jack, if I depart before I see you again, I'll die happy. That man has supported me and my mother for near the last three months, bad as you all think him. Why, Jack, we would both be dead of hunger long ago, only for his family; and, my God! to think, of such a murdhering intention makes my blood run cowld'-- “'You had better give him a hint, then,' said Jack, 'some way, or he'll be done for, as sure as you're stretched on that bed; but don't mintion names, if you wish to keep me from being murdhered for what I did. I must be off now, for I stole out of the barn:* and only that Atty Laghy's gone along wid the master to the ---- fair, to help him to sell the two coults, I couldn't get over at all.' * Laboring servants in Ireland usually sleep in barns. “'Well, go home, Jack, and God bless you, and so He will, for what you did this night.' “Jack accordingly departed, after bidding his mother and brother farewell.